Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 25, 2009

Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance for the provision of an in-person mental health screening for each member of the Armed Forces deployed in connection with a contingency operation, in order to identify post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal tendencies, and other behavioral health issues for which additional care and treatment may be necessary. Excludes from such screenings members not subjected or exposed to combat stress during their deployment.

Requires the Secretary to share screening results with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in order to ensure continuity of mental health care and treatment for such members during their transition from health care and treatment provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) to health care and treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Armed Services Committee

17 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Mar 25, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mar 25, 2009
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Mar 25, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2058 · Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.711 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.711, 111th Congress: Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/711

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s711/BILLS-111s711is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:46:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.711 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Examine S.711 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.711, 111th Congress: Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/711

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s711/BILLS-111s711is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:46:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.711 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.711 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.711, 111th Congress: Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/711

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s711/BILLS-111s711is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:46:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.711 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Examine S.711 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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Discuss S.711, 111th Congress: Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/711

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2009-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s711/BILLS-111s711is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T18:46:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.711 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.